Switch for clearance indicators



May 16, 1950 F. l-:LlAssEN 2,508,149

swrrca Fox CLEARANCE INnIcAToRs Filed April 6, 1948 INVENToR. FRED Eumssnu Patented May 16, -1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH FOR CLEARANCE INDICATORS Fred Eliassen, New York, N. Y.

Application April 6, 1948, Serial No. 19,372

2 Claims. (Cl. 200-52) This invention relates to a clearance indicator for motor vehicles.

More particularly, the invention relates to clearance indicator for use with a land or water vehicle for indicating when a collision is about to take place.

In one embodiment of the invention, the clearance indicators are designed for use on an automotive vehicle, such as a passenger car or truck, particularly a trailer truck. Each indicator includes a flexible projection which has universal movement and which incorporates electric switch means so that collision with the projection by an abutting force in any direction will give a warning signal. The indicators can also be used, in a similar manner, as clearance indicators or collision indicators on boats, buses, and other vehicles not running on tracks.

An object of the persent invention is to provide a vehicle having the indicators at various points thereon to act as collision indicators.

Another object is to provide a clearance indicator, as above indicated, which incorporates electric switch means and which will close the switch upon any bending of the indicator in response to an abutting force in any direction.

Still further, it is proposed to provide a clearance indicator of the aforesaid type which is oi improved construction and which is practically indestructible.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a trailer truck equipped with a plurality of clearance indicators in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in axial section, of one of the clearance indicators.

Fig. 3 shows in perspective one of the parts of the indicator.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing a bracket modified from that indicated in Fig. 2 for providing a different mounting means for the indicator.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing still another bracket modification.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view, showing a plurality of signalling means, one an audible means and responsive to the closing of the switch of any of the indicators, and the others, visual signalling means, each being responsive to the closing of 2 the switch of a particular indicator; this view also showing one of the indicators, a battery as a source of current on the vehicle, and a wiring diagram.

The present invention is shown applied, by way of example, in Fig. 1 to a trailer truck IU. There may be, for instance, two indicators as projections II from the front bumper I2, one such projection I I at the rear of the power truck I3 at each side thereof, one such projection Il at the forward end of the trailer I4 of the truck at each side of said trailer, one such projection II at the rear end of the trailer I4 at each side thereof, and two such projections II from the rear bumper I5 of the trailer. The indicators are similar as to construction but may be of diilerent over-all lengths. For example, the indicators projected from the bumpers may be longer than the other indicators.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the indicator II as here illustrated is a structure comprising an elongated laterally elastically ilexible housing IS. Said housing is shown as a unitary member made of rubber, and from end to end of circular cross-section. Within this housing is a cylindrical cavity I1 elongated in the direction o! length of the housing. The housing IG is tapered toward the outer end I8 thereof, beyond the outer end of the cavity I1. Desirably, the tapered end I8 is substantially spherically rounded and carried by a neck portion I9 somewhat slenderized intermediate its length.

Suitably snugly non-shiftably fitted into the outer end of the cavity I1 is an annular band or hoop 20 of conductive material. This constitutes one of the contacts of the normally open switch means in the appliance. The other contact of said switch means is carried at the outer end of a rod-like sub-structure 2l, said contact being here shown as a disc 22 of conductive material.

The main body of the sub-structure 2I is a tube 23 oi rubber, and said disc 22 is xed on the outer end of the tube 23 by means of a screw 2l the threaded shank of which is passed in a central aperture through the disc 22 and thence self-tappingly into the bore of the tube 23. The inner end of the tube 23 rests flat against thc outer face of a washer 25 of hard material, as one of metal.

This washer 25 is placed in the cavity I'I so as to have its rear face lie flat against the annular bottom of the cavity Il which surrounds a cylindrical opening 26. Said washer 25 may be introduced into the cavity I1 in any suitable and con- 3 venient way, as by temporarily distorting the opening 23 to stretch the same to the requisite extent. The Washer 25 is provided with a pair oi' pins 21 rigidly carried thereby, so that said pins may dig into the annular bottom oi the cavity i1 to hold the washer against turning. The washer is held tight against the bottom of the cavity by endwise pressure from the tube 23 consequent upon a pull of the latter effected by a screw 29 sent through the aperture 29, then through the central opening of the washer 25 and thence self-tappingly into the bore of the tube 23.

The basal portion of the housing I 6 opposite the inner end of the cavity i1 is squeezed flat and tight between the washer 25 and a plate-like portion 29 of a metal bracket of suitable design. Said bracket-portion 29 has a countersunk hole 39 therethrough, so that the shank of the screw 23 passes through said hole and the countersunk head oi said screw seats itself ilush in said hole.

With the parts thus coupled, the sub-structure 2l, comprised mainly of the rubber tube 23, is securely held in the cavity i1 for projection toward the outer end thereof and with the said substructure normally extending coaxially with said cavity; while at the same time the appliance ii is properly anchored for dependable projection from the bracket.

Said plate-like portion 29 is shown in Fig. 2 as part of a U-shaped bracket 3| carrying a pair of bolt-like set-studs 32 each provided with a nut and a lock nut as illustrated. These studs may be turned up tightly relative to a ilxed part of the vehicle, as a bumper bar indicated in dot and dash lines at 33, and made fast by tightening up their nuts and lock nuts. Such a mounting of the device is shown at the extreme right and at the extreme left in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 4, a modiiied type of bracket 3| is shown, this being a substantially L-shaped one having a counter-sunk hole 35 therethrough corresponding to the hole 39.

I n Fig. 5, a form of bracket is shown which is a'fiat plate l5, having a countersunk hole 31 l corresponding to the hole 39. This type o! bracket is shown inFlgLlas mounting cachot the indicators Ii projected laterally thevehicie.

- Considering -again Fig. 2,-a conductive wire 38 is as by soldering as indicated at 39,

to the disc 22, and a conductive wire It is con- .nected, as by soldering as indicated at 4i, to the band or hoop 2l; these wires passing from the housing il near its inner end, as by wayoi' an opening 42.

In Fig. 8 is indicated a panel I3, attached, say, to the dashboard oi' the truck. This panel has a row of electric light bulbs N, equal in number to the number .oi' indicators Il with which the vehicle is equipped, and, in addition, a soundemitting alarm means 45, as one of the buzzer type.

While there may be not only a special lamp Il, but also a separate buzzer or the like, for each ot the appliances II, here a single buzzer, said buzzer 45, is shown for being sounded whenever the switch of any indicator is closed.

A battery 49 is shown as the source oi' current for the circuit illustrated; such battery having the usual positive terminal I1 and the usual negative terminal I9. A lead I9 connects the terminal I1 with the wire 49 of the appliance Il shown, and the wire 33 of that appliance is connected by a lead 50 to one terminal of the correlated lamp u. The other terminal of said lamp is connected byleads Si andlltooneterminalofthebumer 45, and the other terminal of said buzzer is connected by a lead 53 to the battery terminal 43.

Branched from the lead Il are leads (not s shown) each of which goes to one of the wires oorresponding to the wires 4l ot a different one of the other indicators Il on the vehicle; and from the wire corresponding to the other oi said wires 38 of each of said other indicators Ii a lead corresponding to the lead l goes, as indicated at Il. 55, 59, 51 and 53, to a diilerent one oi' the lights -M other than the one at the extreme right in Fig. 6. The other terminals of each of the lights 44 last-mentioned are by the leads shown tapped into the lead 5|, and so, by way oi' said lead Il and the lead 52, said lights u last-mentioned. together with the light at the extreme right in Fig. 6, are in series connection with the buzzer 45 and the battery Il.

Thus, when the normally open switch 29-22 in any of the indicators Il is closed, the buzzer will sound. to call attention to the panel, and the particular lamp 44 simultaneously there lighted will indicate the particular indicator Il the switch within which has been closed.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the truck is passing through a corridor where there is little extra clearance and that it begins to crowd one wall, the indicator I'I at a side of the power truck at the forward end thereof will thus be pushed sidewise as it rubs up against the wall. The tube 23 will tend to remain straight, but the housing il will yield laterally to cause the disc 22 to touch the band or hoop 29, thereby sounding the buzzer and warning the truck driver that his vehicle is crowding at one side. The driver will then look at his dashboard and will see which lamp Il is lighted, this lamp telling, by the wording adjacent to it on the dashboard which indicator Il is being deilected, lthat is, at what point on the truck a collision is imminent.

The indicators il at the bumpers work in a similar manner to forewarn a collision with, in such a case also,- the housing i6 deilecting lateralb'. Said housing then will be thus deected. despite even a squarely endwise thrust thereagainst, since, the housing i6 being less readily endwisely compresslble than longitudinally archable along the sienderized portion i9 thereof, said arching is initiated and followed instantaneously thereafter by a lateral iiexing of the housing to a sufilcient extent adjacent the outer end of the cavity i1 to cause the switch 20--22 to be closed 5s at some one of a` multiplicity of possible points circumferentially of the band or hoop 2l.

From the above,l it will be seen that each indicator ii has universal switch-actuating motion, closing the circuit in response to sidewise move- 00 ment of the band or hoop 29 -in .any'direction, this occurring as above under even a direct axial compression. Furthermore. the entire construction is rugged, with the housing i6 so long-lived as to be substantially indestructible.

65 While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications 70 coming within the scope of the invention as deilned in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a. circuit closer for use with a clearance indicator of a motor vehicle having an elongated flexible housing of insulation material and formed with an internal cavity, a washer positioned against the material of the housing at one end of the cavity, an annular band of conductive material xedly mounted within the cavity at the end remote from said washer for connection in Van electrical circuit, a tube of nonconductive material disposed concentrically within the cavity with one end abutting said washer and its other end terminating within said band but spaced from the material of the housing at the adjacent end of the cavity, a disc of conductive material mounted on the said other end of said tube for connection in the electrical circuit to complete the circuit when said band touches said disc, a bracket at the end of the housing adjacent said washer for mounting the housing on a desired portion of the vehicle leaving the other end of the housing free to be flexed to move the band into contact with said disc, and a screw passed through concentric openings formed in said bracket, the adjacent end of the housing, said Washer and threadedly engaged into the bore of said tube securing said bracket, housing, washer and tube together as a unit and holding said tube in a proper position with said disc disposed concentrically within said annular band.

2. In a circuit closer for use with a clearance indicator of a motor vehicle having an elongated ilexible housing of non-conductive material and formed with an internal cavity, a washer positioned against the material of the housing at one end of the cavity, an annular band of conductive material xedly mounted within the cavity at the end remote from said washer for connection in an electrical circuit, a tube of nonconductive material disposed concentrically within the cavity with one end abutting said washer and its other end terminating within said band but spaced from the material of the housing at the adjacent end of the cavity, a disc of conductive material mounted on the said other end of said tube for connection in the electrical circuit to complete the circuit when said band touches said disc, a bracket at the end of the housing adjacent said washer for mounting the housing on a desired portion of the vehicle leaving the other end of the housing free to be flexed to move the band into contact with said disc, means securing said bracket, said washer and said tube together as a unit and to hold said tube in a proper position with said disc disposed concentricaily within said annular band, and pins projecting from the face of said washer abutting the material of the housing at the end of the cavity to be pressed into the material of the housing by said securing means for holding said washer and associated parts against rotation relative to the housing.

FRED ELIASSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '766,532 Schmitt Aug. 2, 1904 1,862,242 Schwlen June 7, 1932 2,144,286 Dawson Jan. 17, 1939 2,208,697 Kernodle et al July 23, 1940 2,270,687 Morse Jan. 20, 1942 2,452,768 Kuster Nov. 2, 1948 

